A slack pressure gradient may bring isolated showers late afternoon / evening for some inland parts of the North Island on Thursday, showers clear away in the east. Mainly dry for a majority of the South Island with a front hovering over the lower South Island during the day.

Mostly sunny for the upper North Island on Thursday, isolated showers may develop late afternoon / evening however about Waikato and Bay Of Plenty. Light winds tend southwest in the afternoon. Showers in the east clear with some sun breaking through from afternoon.

Some heavy rain moves into Fiordland from afternoon, cloud thickens further north in the west. Mostly sunny in the east with increasing high cloud, showers move into Southland late afternoon / evening.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz